Wreckers await the former International Order of Odd Fellows hall in the very near future. Members of the city Planning Commission narrowly approved drastic changes to a plan they approved in July, allowing building owner Tony Civitella to demolish the entire structure at 440 State St. Chairwoman Sharran Coppola cast the deciding vote to allow the demolition after members of the commission grappled with the issue for more than two hours Wednesday. The approval will ...

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Classic Modus Operandi of the Metromob, wait until the last minute to inform the public, and then press the feeble and indebted board for immediate action with threats that they will take business elsewhere. Your taxpayer dollars at work. Long live the Plutocracy. Bow to you masters.

This "planning" is indictitive of shortsightness. Much like the planned condo project at the old Alco-in a flood zone sandwiched in between the RPI nuclear facility bldg. and STS Steel co. When one or boths existence start to impede progress there you'll likely see an" after the known fact" rush to resolve the issue. Same might be said for the SCCC dorm. project underway at Washington Ave., also in a flood zone,witness this years flooding of that area. Wonder how much this will cost the taxpayers, directly or the roundabout way. With the continued demolition of the citys past historic bldgs. this must mean the new definition of "moving forward".

What a disgrace. The planning commission has been ruined like every board and commission by the corrupt all Democrat machine. Sharon Coppola, Steve Strickman and Ray Gillen should all resign today. Plenty of empty buildings on Erie Blvd. or build a new building on ALCO mounds. A strong statement for Schenectady alright which has no room for historic preservation in the new Metroplex order. We should occupy the IOOF hall.

The Hampton Inn had no problem encroaching upon the traffic on Clinton Street in order to build their hotel .. but they refuse to grant sufficient space to their neighbor to renovate? What a civic-minded company! (remember, they get parking spaces in the Metro-tax parking lot behind it ... take those away if they don't want to play fair.)

...Downtowns are local assets. ‘Downtown is invariably where millions of dollars of infrastructure investments have already been made by previous generations,’ Rypkema said. ‘Downtown revitalization through historic preservation is the best example in this country of sustained development.’ While about half the cost of a new building goes toward materials, he said about 70 percent of the money spent to revitalize historic buildings goes to workers, as much of the materials can be reused. The money those employees are paid is recirculated throughout the community.”.... this loss is sickening